108 BRITISH ORTHOPTERA. 



were in a box were very lively, no doubt owing to 

 the very warm atmosphere. We then went to the 

 Palm House, where a large number of very lively 

 individuals were found ; two only, however, were 



*/~ 



imagines- -most were very small. They were chiefly 

 to be met with on palms, bananas, and so forth, hiding 

 amongst the dead leaves, etc., on the stems and trunks. 

 Phosphorus-paste had been freely used to mitigate the 

 nuisance, and it was thought with some effect. 



Of P. australasiaB at Kew, W. Watson wrote in 

 the ' Bulletin ' : " Their haunts are dry holes and 

 corners about the stages and hot-water pipes, the 

 sheathing-bases of palm, banana, and pandanus leaves,, 

 and among the crocks in large plant-pots and tubs. 

 They are in hiding during the day, but at night they 

 come out and run or fly about among the plants^ 

 devouring flowers and leaves like rabbits. Such 

 plants as Eucharis, Crinum, and Alpinia, when in 

 flower, have little chance in the palm house, where 

 the cockroaches are most abundant ; they also find 

 out the ripening bananas and soon devour them.. 

 They are as clever as mice in scenting food and more 

 clever in learning what to avoid in the shape of a 

 trap or poison. Jars with a little treacle at the 

 bottom will trap them for a few weeks, then the bait 

 must be changed to beer, linseed-oil, or sugar and 

 water, otherwise the cockroaches cease to be attracted. 

 We have caught as many as 400 in one 

 night in the palm house, and as they appear to be 

 vegetarians as a rule and to eat a great deal of food 

 it will be seen how troublesome they may become 

 in large plant-houses. In the smaller houses they 

 give less trouble, because they can be more easily 

 kept clown. They breed very rapidly and the young 

 start foraodno- very early. : (' Wild Fauna and Flora 



/ u 



of Kew Gardens,' vi.) 



DISTRIBUTION.- -It seems quite clear that australaside 

 is a misnomer. Shelford thinks it an infrequent 

 immigrant only into Australia, and that its real home 



